Linux is known as one of the leading server systems, and it is more prevalent and wide-ranging. There are no Linux server distros, which vary depending on users’ requirements. It generally offers you the best desktop environment for all sorts of uses and machines, such as workstations, old laptops, powerful modern desktops, corporate offices, personal desktops, servers, gaming platforms, and much more.
Here, we will be sharing our experiences only on the Best Linux Server Distro. For setting up a server, Linux can be adapted to various machines or devices quickly and effectively.
Best Linux Server Distros
In this article, we will be sharing a list of the 10 Best Linux Server Distros that will help both newbie and advanced users choose the right one as per their needs. Let’s get started.
10. Slackware
Slackware is a long-standing Linux server distro that will ensure stability and simplicity. It was first released in 1993. Slackware mainly boots into a command line interface, which is straightforward. It is a very lightweight Linux server, and that is why it brags mostly with Pentium systems.
Slackware comes with the X Window System, a web server, a mail server, C and C++, and a news server. Various package managers such as package managers, pkg tools, and slack pkg are available with this distro.
9. Arch Linux
Arch Linux is a more flexible platform which is very popular with the users. It is a fully customized Linux Distro that comes with some fantastic features. The administrators can quickly set up their server applications with it because it provides a flexible and stable environment. This distro provides answers and comprehensive guides for complete Server setup. It also supports X86 and both X86-64 ARM architectures.
8. Mageia
If you are looking for a secure and stable Linux server, Mageia will be best for you. It was first released in 2010, and now it is a fork of Mandriva. It is the most dependable Linux Server distro at all. Mageia includes some of the best desktop environments, such as GNOME, KDE, LXDE, and Xfce. This distro comes with MariaDB, 389 Directory, and Kolab Server.
7. Oracle Linux
Oracle Linux is one of the best Linux Server Distro and is proudly powered by Oracle. There are two Kernels available in Oracle. One is Red Hat Compatible Kernel (RHCK and the other is Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Both systems work well with different hardware, such as Lenovo, HP, IBM, etc.
Oracle Linux is the best for its Kernel Security. It offers the best data centers in OpenStack and provides an enhanced home server. It supports an Oracle flexible theme containing an Oracle GUI.
6. Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Red Hat Enterprise Linux is the most popular Linux server OS. Almost all Linux components and various software are easily used. Moreover, 500 companies all over the world use its service. There are various servers available on it, such as production servers, enterprise servers, etc.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux comes with a conservative selection of packages and Offers a bug-free and secure server environment. It’s available for various devices and protocols. This distro supports architecture: X86, POWER Architecture, z/Architecture, and S/390. It also provides some fantastic container applications and cloud services.
5. Fedora
Fedora is one of the best Linux server distro containing experimental technologies developed for commercial distribution. It is a fresh Linux server OS for the user who is new to the Linux World. It supports various desktop environments, including Gnome, KDE, etc.
This distro Provided various Database services like PostgreSQL. It’s suitable for new and advanced users and offers a flexible Red Hat ecosystem. Fedora supports various architectures, such as X86, ARMhf, Power, PPC64LE, ARM64, S390X, etc.
4. OpenSUSE
OpenSUSE is one of the most used Linux Server OS, first introduced in 1993. There are two main OpenSuse variants: Leap and Tumbleweed. OpenSUSE Leap is the best for its stability. This server can be easily used as a web server, home server, or both. The versatility features will be very useful in any server distribution.
It supports OpenQA for automated testing, YaST for Linux configuration, and Kiwi for image deployment. OpenSUSE offers up-to-date packages like the Linux Kernel and SAMBA.
3. Debian Stable
Debian Stable is the king of Linux distributions and the most popular Linux Server Distro. It was first launched in 1993. It is the most used Linux server, even though Ubuntu is Debian-based. It provides various package managers, various API tools, etc. You will notice a secure and more stable server using it. It is easy to set up as a primary server and provides a more stable server environment.
2. Rocky Linux
As we all know, CentOS has been discontinued, which was a great fit for the server environments. Still, there is good news for CentOS users as the co-founder of CentOS has created another great alternative to CentOS, which is Rocky Linux. It’s gained huge popularity among developers as a stable and reliable Linux server system.
Rocky Linux is designed as binary and compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux so that the users can benefit from both systems and migrate from each other. This server distro has gained a reputation on the grounds of stability and reliability, and the developers are maintaining a high standard of quality and providing regular patch fixes.
Rocky Linux is a free and open-source server system, thus making it more accessible for developers and independent organizations. It has an active community and contributors who provide regular updates and help solve any problem faced on any server.
1. Ubuntu Server
Ubuntu is popularly known as the best Linux Server Distro, and it will provide you with an excellent user experience. If you are new in the Linux world, choosing Ubuntu as your server distro will be best. Using this server, you can do anything like spinning up web servers, deploying containers, etc. It is excellent as a media server, email server, or game server.
Read More: Top 5 Best Lightweight Linux Distros | Boost Up Your Old Computer
Ubuntu server is supported by large corporations and related technologies, thus offering a smooth and stable server environment. It’s compatible with the most used public clouds, and various architectures such as X86, ARMhf, Power, PPC64LE, ARM64, and S390X are supported. Ubuntu works well on various devices and protocols.
Final Thought
In this article, I have made a short list of the Top 10 Best Linux Server Distros. There are a lot of Linux server OSs available on the market. However, choosing the best Linux server is not so difficult for you.
First of all, you need to know for what purposes you will use them. It also depends on your system architecture. If you are new to the Linux world and wish to use a Linux server, you can use the Ubuntu server for the first time.
I suggest you analyze the features of a Linux server that fulfills your requirements. If you like it, please share it with your friends interested in using the Linux server distro.
Good article, thank you.
For other commentators: If you came to Ubuntupit, it was obviously going to have a Ubuntu pitch, dahhh.
I use Fedora, but doesn’t mean it is the best, rather the one I’m most familiar with and know the best.
As for GUI: Well, another obvious reason is that the article is mainly to assist those new to linux servers and would prefer to use a gui till properly setup, then make it headless, if need be. However, for a home server, why not keep the gui?
After all, if you are such a respectful admin, what are you doing here anyway? Where is the respect for the opinions of other admins. Not everyone is a born linux genius that looks after hundreds of servers and tracks/criticizes articles to boost their own ego.
An Ubuntu-centric website listed Ubuntu as #1? That’s a surprise.
Debian first.
CentOS second
Ubuntu third.
in production i have deployed over 100k CentOs CLI only server and about double that for RedHat
Centos so easy not funny.
Looking for a linux based web server that can be set up with php and perl scripts in ‘/cgi-bin/. Apache2 etc are such a pain to set behind the scenes. They deliver web pages ok but that’s just about all. For anything else you need to be 100% nerd brain
Why do all the pictures have GUI’s? Fairly sure most of us run headless servers, GUI is a waste of resources.
I believe it is because they are trying to show us all the differences between the distros. Since most CLIs all look the same.
Nice answer, best logic!
Exactly why I tough… this is not a serious article… NO respectful admin would run a GUI on its server except for a good reason… I have more than 700 Linux servers and only 2 have GUI installed and I never use the desktop I only start the app I need directly in my windows desktop (forced unto me by the company….)
So this is pure publicity for their ubuntu overlords ( Dont take me wrong ubuntu is great I dont particuliarly like it but thats just me still we use it on a lot of our server )
But it doesnt help me choose a new distro to replace CentOS.